Post Messenger Recorder -

The 50th Annual National Association for the Education of Young Children recognized recently. The week is to celebrate young children and their parents and educators. Child care programs throughout the county celebrated by making displays of children’s artwork, encouraging exploration of a variety of materials and inviting parents in for snacks and fun.

The Growing Tree had a visit from Senator Tammy Baldwin’s regional Representative Justin Williams, who visited with the children, and took a tour of the center. They discussed the ongoing difficulty of recruiting and retaining high quality teachers when it is impossible to raise wages any higher. Currently, families in the county pay from 13-40% of their household income per child on child care. However, the true cost of care is approximately $1,800 per infant. Budgetarily, the only non-fixed item is the wages of the workforce. However, that low wage leads to higher turnover, empty rooms, and lower quality programs since young children need consistent, loving, and trusting relationships to develop their brains fully. He recommended that we apply for a Congressional Directed Spending grant through Senator Baldwin’s office to help offset costs to parents and allow for increased wages for the early childhood educators.

Corrine’s Little Explorers had Justin visit, as well along with Calvin Boldebuck from Representative Pocan’s office. Justin interacted with the children, and discussed family child care. Calvin was interested in the results from federal and state grants that Green County has procured through the United Way and Green County Workforce Development Seed Starter Grant, and if it was something that they should try to legislatively support nationwide. Corrine reported that the mental health supports were very successful for the 12 participating programs and that the mentor program, and that the Green County Child Care Network and supporters are looking for new funding to fund the program permanently, professional development stipends, and bonuses for family child care to become regulated or expand to licensed and staff for group centers has increased capacity and more are participating in Youngstar, therefore, eligible to accept children on subsidy. Department of Children and Families (DCF), Regional Representative Nicole came and visited to play with the children and talk about ways that DCF could better support our programs. Local Village Trustee Tammy Newberry came as well, and played with the children and talked about the impact child care has on our broader economy and families in our community.

Julie’s Child Care, Gloria’s PlayPals, Margret’s Clubhouse, Corrine’s Little Explorers, and Grandma Linda’s family child care programs created a spring display that were up through April 16 in the Village Hall next to the library.